Team

Key staff at the Regional Men’s Health Initiative are:

Owen Catto

Terry Melrose

Brenden Nichols

Jaxon Ashley

Glen Dunkerton

Owen Catto

Owen is married with three children. He has completed a Bachelor of Business in Agriculture and farmed in partnership with his father for 18 years in Morawa while also operating a farm consultancy business. After selling the family farm in 2005 Owen and his family travelled across Australia for a year whilst home schooling the children.

Owen’s interest is in empowering men to move forward and embrace progressive changes in their family relationships and their wellbeing and health. Since 2007 Owen has worked specifically in men’s holistic wellbeing and health. He presents a range of educational programs and strategies for men, their families and communities.

Terry Melrose

Terry originates from Rockhampton in Central Queensland. He has worked in youth services and also provided personal care and support within both a hospital setting and with a local non-government disability service.

As part of his life adventure Terry travelled to Western Australia a number of years ago. His previous employment led to involvement with the WA Pilot of Drought Reform.

Men’s holistic wellbeing and health and working in a regional setting has been an area of interest that has now become a reality for Terry who currently works as a Community Educator with The Regional Men’s Health Initiative delivered by WMH (Inc.).

Terry is strongly supported by his partner and they have three young children

Brenden Nichols

Brenden joined the team in 2015 leaving behind his previous role with a rural community mental health service. Residing in the town of Toodyay with his wife and three children, he has developed a strong affiliation with regional WA and a fascination with the people who live and work in this unique setting.

As a Registered Nurse he has spent the majority of his career specialising in Mental Health and in particular has become passionate around engaging and supporting men to realise their potential wellbeing and health.

Brenden is also a strong advocate for the benefits that music can bring to our spiritual and social wellbeing. He needs very little encouragement to pick up the guitar and can often be found pursuing his other passion of song writing.

Jaxon Ashley

Jaxon has recently joined the Regional Men’s Health Initiative team after spending a year on the family farm in Narrogin, Western Australia. Prior to this he studied a Masters of International Development at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and completed a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Western Australia. He currently lives in Northam and through his role as Community Educator, embraces the opportunity to help regional blokes increase their capacity for living more health conscious and happy lives.

Glen Dunkerton

Glen is a Northam local of some 26 years and is married with five children. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Education, specifically English and Health/Physical Education. Glen’s considerable experience teaching adolescents has opened his eyes to the different ways that young men learn, react, develop and perceive risk.

Glen is excited about his recent move to Regional Men’s Health and the opportunities it offers to contribute to the ongoing promotion and development of holistic wellbeing and health for men in regional, rural and remote Western Australia.